How useless is F1 nowadays???
#91
There is skill in piloting a 747, still not very exciting to the spectator. I'd say there was more skill in driving an 80's turbo F1 car with a manual box personally.
#92
In many ways the skill required to drive an older F1 car would be very demanding, but you have to consider the immense difference in speeds and handling these days, how to cope with high crosswinds, being able to manage effectively with all the controls on the steering wheel,having to be able to find the actual limit of roadholding which is so very high now, without losing it in a pretty final manner for your chances if you are unlucky. Believe me, finding the limit in cornering power in a car with extreme roadholding is really quite difficult to do as well as to reproduce it on every corner.
You cannot knock the all round abilities of any F1 driver on the track these days, although of course, some will be more equal than others.
Les
#93
#95
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As fit the 80's turbo quip, based on what?
#96
Don't be so rude - it is not often we get ex-F1 drivers on here dispensing their wisdom to all and sundry.
#97
#98
Why are you describing my job to me as if I did not know? I can assure you that if you handed the controls to someone who was not qualified and told them to land it, they would find it a real thrill, as would everyone else!
In many ways the skill required to drive an older F1 car would be very demanding, but you have to consider the immense difference in speeds and handling these days, how to cope with high crosswinds, being able to manage effectively with all the controls on the steering wheel,having to be able to find the actual limit of roadholding which is so very high now, without losing it in a pretty final manner for your chances if you are unlucky. Believe me, finding the limit in cornering power in a car with extreme roadholding is really quite difficult to do as well as to reproduce it on every corner.
You cannot knock the all round abilities of any F1 driver on the track these days, although of course, some will be more equal than others.
Les
In many ways the skill required to drive an older F1 car would be very demanding, but you have to consider the immense difference in speeds and handling these days, how to cope with high crosswinds, being able to manage effectively with all the controls on the steering wheel,having to be able to find the actual limit of roadholding which is so very high now, without losing it in a pretty final manner for your chances if you are unlucky. Believe me, finding the limit in cornering power in a car with extreme roadholding is really quite difficult to do as well as to reproduce it on every corner.
You cannot knock the all round abilities of any F1 driver on the track these days, although of course, some will be more equal than others.
Les
#99
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I would rather motorsport went back to manual driving instead of technology doing the work, bring back the most powerful and difficult cars to drive and see who is the best driver, not what team can produce the best technology. However it will never happen because health and safety wouldn't allow the return of Group B rally cars or turbo F1 cars and so now we just have dumbed down versions.
Last edited by Bravo2zero_sps; 17 November 2010 at 10:33 AM.
#101
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I'd be very surprised if it does happen that they will be anywhere near as raw/snappy as the 80's ones though. Any info on what power they will be? The 80's ones were hitting 1500hp for qualifying and 900hp for race
#102
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I think it could happen as the road car manufacturers say a 1.5L or less turbo engine is closer to future road car tech than a V8, but we will see.
The power delivery will be very different to the current engines though and should favour those who can balance a car on the throttle more.
#103
F1 wheels used flappy paddles mounted on the wheel anyway to change gear.
Have you looked at an F1 wheel lately? Have you seen the number of controls mounted on them now? How well do you think you would do managing to find the correct buttons while hammering along a straight in company with other cars and on the entry or exit of a corner? Do you think you could guarantee to get the right buttons under that sort of pressure while you are watching everyone else on the track?
Just try thinking yourself in that kind of situation and tell us how easy you think it is.
Les
#105
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dump all the rules bar the saftey ones, make 1.5L turbo engine size max and make min weight higher. costs will plummit because 0.001 second quicker no longer costs £10,00, you wont be trying to make the suspension struts 0.001kg lighter and thinnner to try to get advantage so car will become stronger.
see what happens then, the advanced tech edge that f1 has over other motor sport can be brought back and stronger cars mean more wheel to wheel racing due to drivers being less afriad of touching
see what happens then, the advanced tech edge that f1 has over other motor sport can be brought back and stronger cars mean more wheel to wheel racing due to drivers being less afriad of touching
#106
Perfect case of a component that was non safety related, cost a bloody fortune and was of marginal benefits.
It was one of the reasons given for more standardised engines that came in a few years ago. Teams will always look for the 0.001 benefit and big teams can afford to pay for it, so do pay for it. Current engine rules are there to stop just this sort of thing.
I'm not saying it's right or wrong - I like the fact that F1 is seen as the pinnacle of engineering. But we've definitely been there before.
#107
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#108
I never found it that much of a problem when I had a gearchange mounted on the sidewall of the cockpit, advisable of course to be in the right gear before actually entering the corner.
F1 wheels used flappy paddles mounted on the wheel anyway to change gear.
Have you looked at an F1 wheel lately? Have you seen the number of controls mounted on them now? How well do you think you would do managing to find the correct buttons while hammering along a straight in company with other cars and on the entry or exit of a corner? Do you think you could guarantee to get the right buttons under that sort of pressure while you are watching everyone else on the track?
Just try thinking yourself in that kind of situation and tell us how easy you think it is.
Les
F1 wheels used flappy paddles mounted on the wheel anyway to change gear.
Have you looked at an F1 wheel lately? Have you seen the number of controls mounted on them now? How well do you think you would do managing to find the correct buttons while hammering along a straight in company with other cars and on the entry or exit of a corner? Do you think you could guarantee to get the right buttons under that sort of pressure while you are watching everyone else on the track?
Just try thinking yourself in that kind of situation and tell us how easy you think it is.
Les
#109
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#112
I'm just interested in what is as demanding as a manual box re the buttons as Leslie implied.
Is it critical to press the team radio button whilst braking into a corner?
#113
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Nobody mentioned critical where did you drag that one from? , but it does happen. I even remember seeing it in last weeks race.
#114
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After they banned pit-lane remote systems management, Schuey used to switch maps for both engine and braking systems between corners. According the Ross Brawn he was the only driver with enough latent capacity to do it.
#115
#116
Maybe it will get home to him now!
Les
#120
Fast cornering on a track with different corners and radii etc. also needs skill and a good memory, at least to begin with anyway.
Whatever-its all good fun I reckon!
Les